Accelerator-pedal-operating unit



May 29, 1928. 1,671,169

M. M. swAlN ACCELERATOR PEDAL OPERATING UNIT Filed Maron 15, ,1.926

| l. ll l l l iii-7 y M M kmwain /y www Patented May 29, 1928. v

UNITED .STATES PATENT foi=Fics.v

MACK M. SWAIN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

AooiiLiiiiA'ron-rnnaii-OPERATING UNIT.

Application filed March 13, 1926. Serial No. 94,495.r

which may be extended'upwardly and to the.

rear for the purpose of comfortably receivf ing the foot of a short legged person, whereyby an accelerator pedal may be operated conveniently and without straining.

A further object of thisinvention is the provision of an accelerator pedal extension unit embodying a comfortable foot rest which may be collapsed into an operating relation with an accelerator Pedal, for op,g eration by long-legged persons with the foot supported in a comfortable position, or which may be extended upwardly and to the rear for comfortably receiving the foot of shorter-legged persons in order that the accelerator pedal may be conveniently operatedwith ease; the adjustment from one position to another'being capable yof manipulation withoutdetachment or alteration of parts.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description. 4

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein' similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved foot rest and pedal extension unit showing the same attached on the floor boards of a conventional automotive vehicle for operating an ordinary acceleratorl pedal; the improved unit being shown extended in this figure for operation by short-legged persons. y I

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the improv-ed foot rest and pedal extension unit, showing the same coly lapsed intol a pedal operating'relation for comfortably receiving the foot of longlegged persons.

Figure 3 is ka fragmentary sectional view taken through the rear end of the improved unit, with the rear end parts in the position they will assume when'adapted for operation by short-legged persons.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 'is a sectional view taken transi versely through the forward part of the im` proved unit, when lextended for operation by short-legged persons.

Figure 6 is a cross'sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 2. Figure 7 is a bottom plan viewv of the foot plate portion of the invention, showing more particularly the meansvby whicha resilient mat 'is assembled thereon. i

In the'drawing, wherein for the purpose a of illustration is shown-only a preferred embodiment of this invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved unit, which is adapted for placement upon a support B,

such as the floor boards of a vehicle, in a convenient position for operation of the accelerator pedal C. I

The improved unit A preferably coinprises an attaching portion D adapted for connection in a rigid manner upon the support'B. An accelerating pedal contact and operating lever arm E is pivotally connected to the support or base D, and supports a foot rest plate F thereon byl collapsible means G. The foot rest plate F may receive thereon a resilient or flexible foot contact pad H formed in a novel relation for receiving'the feet'of long and short-legged persons in a comfortable relation.

The base D is preferably of cast metal, or any approved material, and it includes the socket o-r hollow body 10, which at the lover end thereof is'provided with an outward ly extending attaching flange 11 provided with openings 12 therethrough for receiving screws 13 or the like by means of which the basel) may be at-tached'to the toe board or floor board B of the vehicle. The socket or body 10 includes a rear wall 14; side walls 15; and is recessed at the front at 17 to provide a short front walll which extends from the base flange `11 upwardly' and terminates below the top yedges of the walls 14 and 15, to permit thejoperating movement ofthe pedaloperating lever E. The portion 10 thus provides a lsocket comey partment 18 therein across which a transverse supportingfpin .19 extends: the ends thereof being supportedin the sidewalls 15, somewhat after the manner illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing, and the.A screws7 threaded end of the pin 1.9 may be peened over to vprevent detachmentof the pin or thesame may be made of cast aluminum or any approved material. llt includes the long body portion 20, which at the rear end thereof is enlarged at land transversely apertured for receiving the pintlc 19 thercthrough whereby to pivotally mount its end 21 ofthe lever E in the socket or body 10 of the base D with the same forwardly eX- tendingr lthruV the recess 17 above the front wall 16. The forward end 24 of the body 10 is wider than the remaining portion, and

Y adaptedfor resting directly on top of the vpartment`18, and is adapted to abut against the inner end'of an adjustable stop screw or member 3,1 which adjustably carried by the front wall 16 `of the base D. This stop member 31 regulates the upward amplitude of movement of the lever E, and is very important to prevent `any loose play between the end 24 of the lever E and the operating pedal C, when the latter is fully extended and the carburetor is closed.A Thus, the fol ward endof the lever E may always be maintained in contact withthe pedal C, for operation of the latter, and the upward tipping of the lever E cannot be occasioned so as to space the same at its free end from the pedal C when the latter is fully extended .when thc carburetor is closed for feeding fuel.

The means G comprises `the front. link 27 which collapsibly connects the lever E with the foot plate F, and the collapsible and eX- tensible rear link construction 35 which connects the base D andthe foot plate F for extended or collapsed positioningV of the latter. y

The foot plate F is preferably or rigid construction," and is of metal. It is preferably ofv uniform width through the major length thereof, but may be rounded at its rearedge 37 as illustrated in Figure 7 of the clraw'ingn` and at its `front end the same is tapered by 'converging the edges 38 to a blunt point or edge 39. @n the lower surfaceV thereof the plate F is providedwith a front pair of apertured lugs orbrackets 40 which detachably receive thereacross a pin or pintle 41 upon which the upper end of the link 27 pivots. Thelink 27 as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawing is apertured at its upper end' for receiving the said pin 41, and

at its lower end it is likewise `apertured as above mentioned for receiving the pin 26. The llink 27 permits the plate F to be pushed forwardly and collapsed down. immediately over the lever E, or permits the foot plate F Vto be elevated into a spaced relation above the lever E, with the link 27 Varranged in sul'istantially right angled relation between the plate F and lever E, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing.

The link 35 includes a body portion 36, havingl an upwardly extending reduced shank 37a, which is rolled lat .its upper end 38* to provide a transverse passageway to pivot upon apin 44; the pin 44 being supported in a detachable relation by means of spaced parallel apertured lugs 46 which are connected integral with the foot plate F and depend from the bottomsurface thereof at thc rear end of the same. T he link 35 fu`r thermorel includes the spaced parallel legs 48 and 49,'which are hooked at 50, at the lower ends thereof, and which slidably extend into the socket compartment 18 of the base D, at opposite sides of the lever end 21 and extension 30, as is illustrated inlligure 4 of the drawings. The'hooked ends of the legs 48 and 49 are open, and the link 35 may be reciprocated back and forth in the socket compartment 18 to place the hooked i ends Owdownwardly into the socket compartment to vertically'position the link 35 in a stable braced relation, or the link 35 may be pulled upwardly, to move the hooks 50 above `the top edge of the wall 17, into engagement with the pin 19, and from which position the link 35 may be moved lll() forwardly upon collapsing of the foot plate 'l F, as is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing. The Afact that the hooked ends 50 open upwardly prevent detachment of the link from the base D, as said hooksV 50 will engz'ige the pin 19 to prevent disconnection of the ilink. The hooked ends 50 of the link 35 are of aboutv the same width as the width of the compartment 18, or slightly greater, and

in order to lit snugly in the compartment 18 between the front and rear walls 14 and 16 thereof, as is yillustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing, to brace the link in a stable ex'- tended' relation. i

The link 35 has a resilient clamp 60"con nected therewith, including outwardly eX- tending resilientfingers 61 which may flex to engage the portion 2O of the lever E when' the link islcollapsed upon the lever E, as illustrated in Figure Qofthe drawing, in order to hold the foot plate F collapsed upon the lever portion E, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 6v of the drawing.

From so much of the description of the unitas above given, it is apparentthat when the base D is connected upon the floorv board B, the lever E at its forward end' rests upon the accelerator pedal C. lf a short-legged llo las

person is to operate the pedal C, it is merely necessary to pull the foot plate F upwardly from the lever E, and the clamp fingersl will release their hold upon the lever body 20, due to the exerted force, and the links 27 and 85 will pivot at their lower ends and move upwardly, to permit the movement of the foot plate F upwardly into a spaced relation over the lever E. Vhen the foot plate F has been elevated to the desired extent, and the link 35 is extended, the link 35 in its extended position is then pushed downwardly into the socket compartment 18 as far as it will go, by gently pressing upon the rear end of the foot plate F, and the hook ends 50 of the link 35 will then engagek into a stable braced relation in the socket compartment 18 of the base D, in order to position the foot plate F in a supported spaced relation, extended over the lever E, and the links 27 and 35 cannot be collapsed so long as the link 35 has the hooked portions of the legs 48 and 49 thereof extended downwardly into the socket compartment 18 between the front and rear walls of the base D, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4L of the drawing.

If a long-legged person is to operate the accelerator pedal, it is merely necessary to pull upwardly at the rear end of the foot plate F, when the unit is in the extended position as illustrated in Figure l of the drawing, and this pulls the link 35 upwardly from its socket engagement in the base D, and permits the forward and downward collapsing of the foot plate F into the closely spaced relation over the lever E. In this position the resilient fingers 61 engage the lever body 2O and lock the parts of the unit A in a collapsed relation to permit of operation of the accelerator pedal by long-legged persons.

It is preferred to place themat or foo pad H upon the foot plate F, and to this end the same is preferably formed of some flexible or resilient material, such as rubber. It may be moulded to form, and is readily detachable from the foot plate F. In the preferred construction thereof the same is elongated in substantially the form of the sole and heel of a foot, and it comprises a body portion 70, which on the lowersurface thereof is provided with lateral flanges 71 and 72` and a rear flange 7 3, formed along the major length at the sides thereof, and at the rear end, to provide a substantially U- shaped groove 7 5 in which the marginal portions of the foot plate F may be received. The flanges 71 and 72 extend to a point short of the toe end of the foot pedal mat H, approximately in the vicinity of the link 27, and from this point forwardly the flanges are not provided, so that the toe portion 77 of the body 70 of the mat H may be lifted upwardly from the front end of the foot plate F. A retaining lug 78 is formed on the bottom surface of the toe portion 77 of the mat H, adapted for abutment against the front edge 39 of the foot plate F, to prevent the sliding of the mat H rearwardly from its pocketed connection with the foot plate F, when the latter is received in the groove 75. The groove 7 5 in lieu of the formation above described may be termed a pocket.

The top surface of the body is formed l in a novel manner. It includes a heel portion 8O adapted to receive the heel of shoes of personshaving large feet, and at the front of the heel portion 8() a transverse retaining strip or rib 81 extends across the body Q0, and immediately forwardly of this strip 81 is formed a heel socket 82 adapted to-receive the heels of ladies shoes or the shoes of persons'having small feet.

From the foregoing description of this invention it is apparent that a novel foot rest and .accelerator pedal extension unit has been provided, which is capable of being stably supported in an upper extendedrearwardly positioned manner, or-which maybe collapsed downwardly and slightly forwardly in order to accommodate thefeet of persons having long and short legs.

Various changes in the shape, size, and

arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: i

`1. In an accelerator pedal operating unit the combination of a floor attaching base, a foot supporting member, means pivotally and adjustably connecting said foot supporting member to said base, a pedal operating lever pivotally connected to said base, and means connecting said lever at its outer end to an outer end of said foot .supporting member to permitcollapsing or extension of the foot supporting member with respect to the lever.

2. In an accelerator pedal operating unit the combination of a base, a foot rest member, means adjustably connecting the vfoot rest member to the base, an elongated accelerator pedal contact lever pivotally connected to the base extending` forwardly therefrom, and collapsible link means pivotally connecting the forward end of the lever with the forward end of said foot rest member.

3. In an accelerator pedal operating unit the combination of a base having a socket opening therein, a foot rest member, a link pivotally connected at the rear end to said foot rest member,` and means for pivotally connecting the link to said base for collapsed positioning of the foot rest member with respect to the base, and permitting the link to be extended into the socket of the base for stably supporting the same in an upwardly extending relation from the` base` fol" snpporting't'he" foot rest member in any extended relation with respect to the baise."

fl. In an accelerator' pedal operating unit the combination oil a slinpportingf base having e socket? opening' therein', foot rest mem'- ber. and af `llink movably connected with said foot reet member adapted' toA be eleaclialoly positioned in the Socket ort the base forl snp`` porting the link in a stable extended relai# vtion withy respect to tlie base.

In an accelerator pedal' olfieratinfgf nuity the combination* of ai supporting' lease have ing al socket opening therein,` toot rest member,- aA llink movalbly conneeted' `with seid' 'foot rest member adapted to be detzchabl'y positioned in the socket of the base for' supporting the link ina stable extendedl re`` lation with' respect to the base,A and means carried by tlie base to prevent disconnection of the link from tlie baSe and t'o permit the piroted movement! ot the link onfthe base Wlen it removed* from said socket whereby to` collapse the foot rest member "with respect te the base.

6. In an accelerator pedlali operating unit tl'ie' combination of af base, an operating lever movably' connected Wi'tlr the ba'se exl tending: `forwardly therefrom, a foot rest member,` collapsible link means pivotalily connecting the: forward ends of tlie foot reet member and: lever, and eollapsilble` means for rewrivardfly connecting? the rear end of the foot rest member' and base. Y

` 7 ln an accelerator' pedal operating unit the comlfiin'ati'on' of attaching base haw ine; a Socket opening' therein, a" pin snfpported by tli'e base' exteiiding traiizlnleisely' across' the Socket opening71 forwardly eX- tending lever pirotally connected to said pim al foot rest member, e link pivotafllly connected te the foot rest member at the rear end thereof: said link liavincY lower 7 D end adapted to be received ini the socket o-ll MACK M. SVAHT. 

